Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2023 February, 259(2)

Exploratory Study of Serum Lactoferrin and Anti-Lactoferrin Antibody Concentrations in Patients with Endometriosis

Kaya Mori-Yamanaka,¹ Fuminori Kimura,^1,2 Akiko Nakamura,¹ Tetsuro Hanada,¹ Jun Kitazawa,¹ Aina Morimune,¹ Shunichiro Tsuji¹ and Takashi Murakami¹

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Otsu, Shiga, Japan
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan

Endometriosis is a disease that is characterized by the ectopic presence of the endometrium or its similar cells. A high prevalence of patients with autoimmune diseases has been reported among patients with endometriosis although the cause of endometriosis remained unknown. Recently, the anti-lactoferrin antibody is reported to be highly detected in autoimmune diseases. This study focused on lactoferrin and anti-lactoferrin antibodies to explore the pathology of endometriosis. Lactoferrin is a substance that regulates inflammation and is produced by neutrophils. Anti-lactoferrin antibody is a type of perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody. The serum lactoferrin and anti-lactoferrin antibody levels were compared among patients with or without endometriosis, revealing significantly higher levels in patients with endometriosis. Additionally, a decreased serum anti-lactoferrin antibody level was observed after surgical endometriosis resection. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis determined the reference values for the serum lactoferrin and anti-lactoferrin antibody levels. Patients whose serum level exceeded the reference anti-lactoferrin antibody value were significantly higher in more than 40% of cases in the endometriosis group. The rate is comparable to that of autoimmune diseases. This is the first report that anti-lactoferrin antibody is frequently observed in patients with endometriosis, adding a new perspective to the understanding of the pathology of endometriosis although precisely elucidating the mechanism by which lactoferrin and anti-lactoferrin antibody appear in endometriosis in the future is necessary.

Keywords —— anti-lactoferrin antibody; autoimmune disease; endometriosis; lactoferrin; neutrophil

© 2023 Tohoku University Medical Press

===============================

Tohoku J. Exp. Med 2023, 259, 135-142.

Correspondence: Akiko Nakamura, M.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga 520-2192, Japan.

e-mail: akikon@belle.shiga-med.ac.jp

Correspondence: Fuminori Kimura, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University, 840 Shijo-cho, Kashihara, Nara 634-8521, Japan.

e-mail: kimurafu@naramed-u.ac.jp